]]>The LNP has opened nominations for prospective candidates to contest the federal seat of Fairfax at the next election.

LNP State Director Brad Henderson said the LNP is looking for a hard working candidate whose priority is representing the interests of the people of Fairfax in a federal Liberal National Government.

“If you want to serve your community, if you share the LNP’s vision and values, and if you want to contribute to building a better future for your nation then we want to hear from you,” Mr Henderson said.

“The LNP is looking for a candidate who will provide a strong local voice for the people of Fairfax in a Coalition Government which is rebuilding our nation’s finances, cutting red tape and restoring opportunity after the chaos of Labor.”

Prospective candidates should contact LNP State Secretary Angela Awabdy at LNP headquarters for an application form on 07 3844 0666 or via email preselection@lnp.org.au.

“While Labor has no plan other than an infrastructure freeze, we will continue to build on the achievements the LNP has delivered over the last three years,”

“This team is based on merit, unlike Labor where union leaders dictate who gets a cabinet seat.” he said.

Deputy Leader John-Paul Langbroek said he was honoured to be taking on the role of Shadow Treasurer and Minister for Commonwealth Games.

“This year the LNP was set to deliver its first budget surplus in more than a decade and we are determined to hold the Government to account,” Mr Langbroek said.

“It is no secret Labor’s history of looking after the state’s budget was dismal and Queensland can’t afford to rack up more debt on the credit card.”

“The coming months are also a crucial time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and as a proud Gold Coast MP, we can’t afford to let the momentum slip.”

Mr Springborg said the LNP team was ready to expose Labor’s inexperience and inaction.

“In a minority Government, the role of the parliamentary committees will be even more crucial. With his wealth of experience Jeff Seeney has agreed to oversee the critical role of Chairman of the opposition’s Parliamentary Policy Committees.”

“Queenslanders deserve better than a Government with no policies, refers the big decisions to committees and is just making it up on the run.”

Mr Springborg met officers at the Logan Road ambulance station, where new services and techniques have helped reduce ambulance response times and the time taken for patient transfer at hospital emergency departments.

“The QAS has the best trained paramedics in Australia,” Mr Springborg said. “Since 2012, better co-ordination between hospitals and arriving ambulances has reduced the time taken for patient transfer state-wide by 12 minutes.

“The range of specialised QAS services today is greatly enhanced, with successful high-acuity trials, a roll-out of new defibrillators and the use of clot-busting medication just three examples of advanced life-saving techniques now being extended across the service.”

Another successful initiative, the QAS Trauma Response Team, which serves a metropolitan population of about 2.4 million people, has begun training for an extension to the Gold Coast for the first time.

Mr Springborg said the Trauma Response Team is a small group of critical care paramedics who attend severely injured patients in a catchment area west to Ipswich, north to Caboolture and south to Pimpama.

“TRT paramedics undertake field anaesthesia (life support), surgical procedures to the chest, perform diagnostic ultrasounds and administer blood transfusions. All of these interventions have a valuable potential to improve outcomes for seriously-ill patients.”

The Health Minister said TRT operations are subject to close clinical oversight and audit.

“Our TRT paramedics are mentored by medical specialists from the major trauma hospitals who have also participated in intensive training in QAS operations.”

TRT operations will be extended to the Gold Coast area in 2015, extending the total catchment population to 3 million Queenslanders.

Initial ultrasound training began 2 weeks ago, with an intensive education phase starting this month. This will involve direct oversight by senior doctors and paramedics and simulation exercises in biomedical laboratories.

]]>https://lnp.org.au/news/better-results-from-improved-ambulance-techniques-state-wide/feed/0Thank you Queenslandhttps://lnp.org.au/news/thank-you-queensland/
https://lnp.org.au/news/thank-you-queensland/#commentsSat, 31 Jan 2015 04:41:43 +0000https://lnp.org.au/?p=16791After just three short years Queensland is a better sta […]

]]>https://lnp.org.au/news/last-minute-labor-costings-risk-queensland/feed/0Kuranda Range upgrade to create jobs and improve safety for familieshttps://lnp.org.au/news/kuranda-range-upgrade/
https://lnp.org.au/news/kuranda-range-upgrade/#commentsWed, 28 Jan 2015 23:42:19 +0000http://qld.lnp.org.au/?p=16619Hundreds of new local jobs will be created and truckies […]

]]>Hundreds of new local jobs will be created and truckies, tourism operators and Far North Queensland families will have a safer drive under an LNP plan to upgrade a notorious stretch of the Kuranda Range.

Premier Campbell Newman said the Kuranda Range upgrade was part of the LNP’s strong plan to fund the Far North’s future by building infrastructure to drive investment and growth, and create new jobs.

“Cairns has a pivotal role in Queensland’s economy and the region needs better infrastructure to support growth in the four pillars of agriculture, resources, tourism and construction, as well as other key industries,” he said.

“The Kuranda Range Road is a key link between Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands used by thousands of locals and tourists every day.

“If the LNP Government is re-elected, we will provide $50 million to upgrade the road between Smithfield and Kuranda, improving safety for families, delivering a freight route and generating more than 300 jobs during construction.

“The upgrade will widen nine kilometres of the road to provide new overtaking lanes both up and down the range, improve safety and provide better access to the Henry Ross Lookout.

“Only the LNP has a strong plan to fund Queensland’s future and deliver the services and infrastructure our growing state needs.”

Member for Barron River Michael Trout said he had been working hard to secure the long overdue upgrade and was pleased it would be delivered under the LNP’s strong plan for the Far North.

“Overtaking on the range is near impossible and for too long drivers and truckies have been raising issues with safety on a very windy and narrow stretch,” Mr Trout said.

“There are an average of 60 crashes a year and tragically there have been fatalities, so this long-awaited upgrade will make it safer for families and workers who travel on this road.”

Member for Cook David Kempton said many families in the Tablelands used the range to commute to and from Cairns.

“Families in the Tablelands often have issues due to the state of the Range getting to Cairns to make flights, appointments or getting to and from work,” Mr Kempton.

“This investment will be warmly welcomed by families in both Cairns and on the Tablelands.”

The LNP’s plan to upgrade the Kuranda range follows other road commitments for the Far North including:

]]>https://lnp.org.au/news/kuranda-range-upgrade/feed/0$5m for RSPCA to help animals in needhttps://lnp.org.au/news/helping-animals-in-need/
https://lnp.org.au/news/helping-animals-in-need/#commentsWed, 28 Jan 2015 04:41:57 +0000http://qld.lnp.org.au/?p=16603The RSPCA will be able to upgrade and renew its Queensl […]

]]>The RSPCA will be able to upgrade and renew its Queensland shelters to better protect and care for animals in need if the Newman LNP Government is re-elected.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh today announced a re-elected LNP Government would provide $5 million over the next three years to upgrade RSPCA animal shelters in areas of need around the State.

“The RSPCA does a wonderful job caring for unwanted, abandoned and mistreated animals, but many of their shelters in Queensland are getting run down or are close to or over capacity,” Mr McVeigh said.

“If the Newman LNP Government is re-elected, we will establish a $5 million fund for the RSPCA which can then seek contributions from local councils to upgrade or renew animal shelters across Queensland.

“This new capital works fund will enable the RSPCA to have more flexibility in planning its future infrastructure needs, and ensure the best possible care for our four legged friends.”

The fund will:

Upgrade or renew existing animal shelters;

Provide an opportunity for the RSPCA to access a significant funding pool for upgrade/renewal programs; and

Support a collaborative approach to build new shelters for re-homing unwanted pets, and emergency pet housing in the event of cyclones, floods or other disasters.

Mr McVeigh said the Newman LNP Government had a strong plan to ensure the welfare of all animals.

“This funding boost for the RSPCA comes on top of the tougher animal cruelty laws and penalties we have introduced during the past two years,” he said.

“Our Government increased the maximum penalty for animal cruelty from two years in prison or a $110,000 fine to four years in prison or a $220,000 fine.

“We’ve also introduced a new indictable offence of serious animal cruelty with a maximum penalty of seven years’ prison for intentionally inflecting severe pain and suffering on animals. The Newman LNP Government shares the community’s frustration about serious animal cruelty offenders walking from court without serving any time. This new offence sends a clear message that serious animal cruelty won’t be tolerated.

“Under the Newman LNP Government, it doesn’t matter if a person has one pet or a hundred, we have put in place the laws to make sure animal cruelty cases can be properly prosecuted. The Newman LNP Government is working hard to make Queensland the safest place to live and raise and family, and that includes for our four legged family members.”

]]>South-east Queensland commuters will find it easier to park and ride at train and bus stations, dangerous level crossings will be made safer, and thousands of new construction jobs will be created under a landmark LNP public transport package announced today.

Mr Newman said the LNP had a strong plan to fund Queensland’s future and deliver the services and infrastructure our growing state needs, including public transport.

“Over the past three years, we’ve worked hard to improve the frequency, affordability and reliability of public transport,” he said.

“We’ve delivered more than 3000 new weekly bus and train services and there are now more trains on time than ever before. We’ve also made it cheaper for families to use public transport by making a state-wide fare cut for the first time in Queensland’s history.

“While we’re making progress, we know there is more to do and if re-elected, an LNP Government would fund a public transport revolution for south-east Queensland that will create thousands of new jobs.”

Key elements of the LNP’s strong plan for public transport in south-east Queensland include:

Providing $1 billion to deliver the BaT tunnel, an underground bus and train tunnel that will deliver 48 extra trains and 160 buses, and create thousands of jobs;

Duplicating the Sunshine Coast rail line between Beerburrum and Landsborough, saving passengers about an hour on a return trip and making travel safer;

Supporting the Gold Coast Light Rail stage 2 project;

Upgrading and building new Park ‘n’ Rides to provide more than 5000 extra car spaces at south-east Queensland train stations and bus hubs over the next six years; and

Committing $295 million to make dangerous level crossings across Brisbane safer for local drivers and rail passengers.

Mr Newman said passengers had been calling for more car parks around train stations and bus hubs, and the LNP had already scrapped Labor’s shortsighted policy banning park n’ rides within 10 kilometres of the city.

“By providing new and improved Park ‘n’ Rides, we’ll make it easier for south-east Queensland commuters to get to and from work so they can spend more time with their family and less time travelling,” he said.

Mr Newman said the LNP was also committed to making public transport safer.

“We’ve already built new rail overpasses at Robinson Road, Geebung and at Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge,” he said.

“If re-elected, we’ll work in partnership with the Brisbane City Council to fund safety upgrades at other level crossings across Brisbane to make travel for rail and road users safer and faster.”

Mr Newman said the LNP was committed to building the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 project.

“We’ll continue to work to get the costs down, and continue to make sure we deliver a project that stacks up,” he said.

“While Labor left a $300 million black hole after bungling the planning of Stage 1, we will do the proper planning to ensure Stage 2 delivers better services for passengers on the Gold Coast at the best price for taxpayers.

“We’re 100% committed to this important project as part of funding Queensland’s future,”

Mr Newman said the LNP’s plan was fully funded and fully costed.

“Only the LNP has a strong and stable team with a strong economic plan to deliver the jobs of tomorrow, real cost of living relief for families, better roads and public transport, and the schools and hospitals our growing state needs,” he said.

“It’s a plan we can truly afford because we’ve made the strong choices to pay down debt and invest in job creating infrastructure.

“The alternative is a weak Labor Government that has no economic plan and no way of funding its promises.

“The only way to ensure jobs, certainty and growth is to just vote one for the LNP.”

]]>The Newman LNP Government today released the detailed budget finances behind its strong plan to fund Queensland’s future and deliver the services and infrastructure our growing state needs.

Premier Campbell Newman said the LNP had worked hard to turn around the State’s finances after inheriting a budget in deficit and debt that was rising to $80 billion.

“Now that we’ve set the right financial foundations, Queensland is headed for the first fiscal surplus in a decade, meaning we won’t need to borrow money to pay teachers or put fuel in ambulances,” he said.

“This state election will decide Queensland’s future and central to the future of Queensland is how we fund our growing state’s needs.

“While we’ve made progress, there’s still a lot of work to be done and we have to tackle the $80 billion of debt to make sure Queensland stays on track to secure a bright future.

“The biggest risk to jobs, economic growth and certainty is a return to Labor’s debt and higher taxes.”

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the LNP would lease less than 12 per cent of the State’s assets to reduce debt by around $25 billion – a level that independent experts advise is manageable within the State’s Budget.

“Through responsible financial management, we can make significant inroads into reducing Queensland’s debt while also increasing frontline services and building the infrastructure of the future,” he said.

“Our plan provides for $8.6 billion to be invested in much needed infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads and public transport while another $3.4 billion would be used to provide cost of living relief through lower electricity prices.

“With more demand for schools, roads, hospitals and police in a growing economy, doing nothing is not an option. Queensland is a growing state and will need new infrastructure and more frontline services.

“Labor has not made any significant infrastructure announcements. Labor has no economic plan and no way of funding its promises.

“The only way Labor could fund the schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure Queensland needs is through debt and higher taxes.That would be bad for business, bad for jobs and bad for the economy.”

Mr Newman said Queensland was on track to have the fastest growing economy in the nation in 2015/16 and the LNP had a plan to ensure our State remained an economic powerhouse.

“The LNP’s fully funded, fully costed long term economic plan will create 209,000 new jobs over the next six years and ensure young Queenslanders can access the best education and training opportunities for the jobs of tomorrow,” he said.

“Queenslanders need the confidence that their government can truly pay for things without ramping up debt and taxes. Unlike Labor, we know where the money is coming from and we can clearly show Queenslanders where it will be spent.

“Only the LNP has a strong and stable team with a strong plan to secure a brighter future for Queensland.”